Skerryvore share the brand new single, ‘While I’m Breathing’, which features fellow Scottish artist Tamzene.
Releases as the band return from filling venues during a USA and Canada headline tour, the song features on their upcoming album Beautiful Mistakes, which follows on November 6. While recent years have seen Skerryvore achieve new highs during their two-decade career (the chart breakthrough and Radio 2 airplay from their previous album Tempus, a huge sold-out anniversary headline show at Floors Castle), ‘While I’m Breathing’ represents the first duet in their history.
The driving folk-pop melody of ‘While I’m Breathing’ shows a doomed, toxic relationship from two different viewpoints – even if both partners share a misguided belief that they can somehow battle against the odds to make it work. Alec Dalglish’s voice is booming, determined and impassioned, a contrast to the unguarded delicacy of Tamzene’s tone. Together, though, their shared harmonies are sublime, a stunning partnership that underlines what’s at risk with the situation that the song reveals.
Listen to ‘While I’m Breathing’ on Scotland Football Songs.
Skerryvore vocalist/guitarist Alec Dalglish says, “This is the first ever duet for us and it’s a pleasure to have worked with Tamzene on both the writing and recording of this track. Her perspective really helped to complete the big picture and her incredible vocals bring a beautiful authenticity to the sentiment of the track.”
Tamzene adds, “Working with Skerryvore on this track was an absolute dream. A band I’ve admired and enjoyed for a long time, and one that continues to evolve and push creatively. This new album has so much beauty and is full of rich storytelling, with ‘While I’m Breathing’ speaking to the lengths we’ll go to for the ones we love. It’s an honour to be involved.”
The song adds another perspective to an album rich with sonic contrasts, from driving road trip energy to raw intimacy, with themes exploring human fallibility and changing perspectives. Produced alongside Jamie Squire (The 1975), it makes Beautiful Mistakes the band’s most ambitious and personal album to date.
The four-time winners of Scotland’s Live Act of the Year award, Skerryvore will celebrate the release of Beautiful Mistakes by embarking upon an extensive UK and Ireland headline tour. Their 2027 live plans are also firmly underway with tours of North America and Germany already confirmed, as well as a four-week Australian tour which includes the Port Fairy Folk Festival and the Blue Mountains Music Festival.
